St Louis County, Missouri - EM48sr
10 May 2008
DIGITAL VOICE DVD just released from Amateur Radio News!
Gary Pearce, KN4AQ of Amateur Radio News has just completed a video on the various Digital Voice programs in use today for both HF and VHF/UHF. These programs include the HF DRM derivatives WinDRM/DRMDV, a sound byte of the new FDMDV and AOR’s 9000 series.
Update 10 May 2008... USA DRM Annual Meeting May 8th Cary, NC:
Good news from the USA DRM Meeting... DRM portable radios will shipping later this year from China. Look for 2008 NASB and USA DRM meeting power points that will be come available here. The 26mhz Alaska DRM experimental license has been granted by the FCC. For more info on 26MHz in the US, go to here.
TAPR and SSTV Forums Dayton Hamvention May 16-17: I will be giving an update on HF Digital Voice in the TAPR forum Friday morning followed by a presentation on "Digital Voice for the Ham Bands" on Saturday afternoon in the SSTV forum. Dayton forum schedule may be found here.
Dallas Ham-Com June 13-14: I'll be presenting a paper titled "Digital Voice over HF - Closing the gap on SSB with FDMDV." Ham-Com program schedule may be found here.
Where I operate:
Daytime: 14.236 Digital Voice and Data (alternate 7.173 LSB and 18.162.5 USB) CW Evenings: 7.031 and 14.025 +/- a few kHz Also, active on 6 thru 1296 SSB, FM and ATV. Weekly QRQ schedules with my dad Rod, W4BI at 21:00UTC Thurs and Sun 14.031.5 (CW). When mobile, listen for me on CW only 7.031 and 14.025 +/- QRM. Using a Kenwood D-700, my APRS tracker SSID is K0PFX-9. I monitor 146.730 and 144.34mHz (ATV talk-back) FM, 147.0375mHz D-Star and 1285mHz D-Star. Look for me on the AOR or the new FDMDV mode using the "On-Line-Finder." To log onto the finders, go to www.n1su.com . Also check the the AOR Digital Voice Forum during the weekend nets.
Modes:
Digital Radio Mondiale (DRM) with HB9TLK's WinDRM for file transfer data and Digital Voice. AOR's ARD9000 and 9800, Fast Radio Modems. AOR and WinDRM are both capable of near FM voice quality over HF. Find WinDRM software and complete documentation here. WinDRM is free sound card/PC based open source software. Visit HB9TLK, Cesco's WinDRM site for the software specs. Visit K6EH's web site for ARD9000/9800 user info, frequency lists and hardware updates. Frequency Division Multiplex (FDMDV) also developed by HB9TLK is becoming a popular choice for many DV users because of its "instant sync" and improved robustness over the ham DRM modes.
Digital Voice Nets:
Summer Season schedule - 1 hour earlier due to daylight savings in US
AOR Digital Voice ARD 9000/9800 meet every Saturday and Sunday at 18:00UTC
FDMDV Digital Voice meet every Saturday and Sunday at 19:00UTC
Note: When activity is low on the AOR net, the FDMDV net may start around 18:30UTC. AOR and FDMDV are easily distinguishable in the waterfall.
Both nets on 14.236.00 USB On-Line-Finders used for coordination found at www.n1su.com
New Freqs for DV: As an alternative to 20m and to stimulate interest on other bands, look for activity on 40 and 75 meters. Join in with N8UX, W9VMT or KB4YZ on 7.143 LSB on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 19:00UTC and 3.825 LSB on Monday-Wednesday-Friday at 19:00UTC.
Whats new in Digital Voice?
Frequency Division Multiplex Digital Voice FDMDV on 20M HF
New Release 16-Mar-08: Version 1.1 A new feature has been added to identify and sync FDMDV signals. The new buttons labeled RXID and TXID implement F6CTE's Reed-Solomon derived ID (RSID) by replacing an image or CW ID with a sequence of 15 MFSK tones sent at the start of the transmission. The data in these tones identify the mode (in this case, FDMDV) and the center of the FDMDV signal (so the two stations can sync). Enabled, stations using this feature can automatically identify and "tune in" a FDMDV signal. The received MFSK signal has to be within the band pass of the receiver. The RXID (the decoder) requires more CPU usage which may require a faster processor/system. The "QRG" button has been replaced with a full duplex "Split" mode that allows the user to click-and-tune a FDMDV station anywhere within the display area without moving the transmitter's frequency. This release and updated docs should be available at www.n1su.com after 15 April 2008.
FDMDV was first released 2-Dec-07 and may be found at www.n1su.com . This DV-only mode has improved robust performance in the presence of weak signals and QRM. It can decode voice down to 3 dB SNR with a small degradation in voice quality. This completely new mode was developed by Cesco, HB9TLK. FDMDV is based on ideas from Peter, G3PLX who wrote the program's FDM modem. FDMDV uses no Forward Error Correction (FEC). Instead, it uses a small number of "higher power" QPSK carriers to improve the SNR. As a result, this mode has "instant" sync, fights SSB splatter and decodes deeper in the noise than DRM based modes such as WinDRM and DRMDV. See N1SU's web site for this free program and my Quick Start Users guide along with a 9 page How-to-Use doc. The FDMDV technical specifications are be published at www.arrl.org
OE3GBB, Gerhard decoded by K0PFX
WinDRM docs for Release 1.2 and the Quick Setup Guide may now be found at www.n1su.com website. The 1.2 release includes the new voice audio recorder and wave file converter software docs. Various corrections and clarifications were also made in the document. The Quick Setup Guide is a short doc with step by step instructions on how to set it up with one or two sound cards. These docs are available in both MS Word and Adobe pdf. Download the zip folders. WinDRM remains king of the DV programs for voice "quality"... it sounds great with its higher bit rate codec and a good set of PC speakers. As cycle 24 raises the MUF, look for activity on the higher bands (17m - 18.162.5 USB).
Digital Voice Sound Bytes:
Tony, K2MO has uploaded a number of sound bytes from on-the-air QSOs of WinDRM/DRMDV and FDMDV and they may be found here. Take a listen! More will be added, so keep an ear open for this site. If you have a sound byte you would like to add, contact Tony.
2nd sound card for DV made easy!
Look for any USB "headset" like the Logitech 250/350 and plug it in. After the plug-n-play install, WinDRM or DRMDV will list it under sound cards. Just choose it for your "Voice Input" and "Voice Output". Use your existing sound card for "RX Input" and "TX Output."
AOR - I have been using the 9000 Mark II for a couple years now and currently with the Flex 5000 SDR. The new speaker/mic delivers clear "no muffled" audio with the same voice quality as its ARD9800 predecessor. The 9000 simply connects to the Flex 5000 mic input and the PC speakers output connected to the Flex's line-out for off the air audio.
The K0MDG (Missouri Digital Group) repeater is operational on all freqs and linked to the Gateway server. The D-Star system software as of this writing is being updated to the latest release from ICOM. You may find me on the DStarusers.org website. I am usually on 1.2GHz (A) using the ID-1. If you call me and no answer, I may be on DD (data). I also monitor the 2m (C) and 440 (B) DV frequencies.
D-Star DV Dongle:
I enjoy using the new DV Dongle recently purchased from HRO at the Orlando "Hamcation" hamfest. Installation was a snap and it works good with my laptop. I have used it in WiFi hotspots and in the mobile phone Sprint network. For info on this amazing little device that allows contacting hams worldwide via the D-Star Network, check it out at the DV Dongle web site here.
Flex SDR-1000 and Digital Voice:
For documents on how to use Dream, SPARK, WinDRM and the AOR ARD9800 on the SDR-1000, refer to my document in the Flex Knowledge Base. The SDR-1000 is an excellent radio for digital voice/data work. I am still planning to write an update for the Flex 5000.
ATV:
The MobiComm Communications "ATV LCD Kit" is now controlling their little DFM900 FM 900mHz transmitter. This TX is now mated up with the Bensat DR903mx satellite receiver. I am using a 1.2gHz FM TX with this Bensat receiver and have found it makes a good combination. Once you try FM ATV, you'll never go back to AM (well, at least for local contacts!). Using DEMI (Downeast Microwave) amplifiers with both transmitters and the loop yagis. FM provides a much improved picture over AM. Geeks.com has a very low cost "pan" unit with wireless remote control. I mounted a Panasonic color camera on it and use it to pan (scan) my hamshack so my ATV viewers can watch me roam around in the shack. It works quite well although some say it scans a bit too fast. Find the $25 "Cam Scanner-WL" here. You may find other uses for it outside the ham shack too. If you do order something from the Geeks, don't forget the little HE-280B USB Audio adapter (sound card the size of your thumb). At less then 8 bucks, it is hard to beat for both price and functionality as a second sound card with WinDRM. Received a couple new cameras from ATV Research and really satisfied with their performance. I recommend ATV Research because they are very helpful with selecting the right camera for each application. I did get a low cost "tower cam" this past summer to look out at the horizon and you can see the results when you log on to my web cam server. This summer, I plan to install a nice (pan-tilt-zoom) PTZ with remote control via the web.
My Hamshack:
Flex Radio System's SDR-5000A with Dell Vostro 400 running XP. See www.flex-radio.com for their new transceiver line up. It is truly an amazing piece of ham gear.
New Gear: I recently began using the new LP-100A Digital Vector Wattmeter with its new blue display. This is one of the few meters that is capable of catching those high power "peaks" of the multi-carrier (high crest factor) digital voice modes. With this meter, you will soon find just how much power you really are running with WinDRM/DRMDV and FDMDV! This meter is real fast and able to display the peak power that your transceiver and/or linear has to amplify without causing distortion. A great addition to anyone's ham shack.
Flex SDR-1000, ICOM756Pro III, Acom 2000A HF Linear, ICOM IC-8500 Receiver w/TV-7100R, ICOM IC-910H Multi-Band VHF/UHF, Kenwood TM-5411.2 GHz FM, ICOM 706MkII, Alinco Dr-235 220MHz FM, DR-M06 6M FM, Kenwood TH-F6 HT, ICOM R3 Wideband RX, ICOM ID-1, 91AD, 2820, PC Electronics TC70-20Sa ATV, Teletec DXP-U150 150w SSTV amp, Bensat DR-903MX 900-1200 ATV FM Receiver, PC Electronics 1300MT 1.2 GHz FM ATV, PC TX133CM 900 Mhz ATV, and SSB Electronics pre-amps on tower and DEMI Amplifiers.
Other interests:
SW Listener analog and digital. For digital, I use DRM's dream software and Coding Technologies Digital World Traveller. QRP with Patcomm 500 Dual-Bander and Mosley CM-1 receiver and Hygain Hytower HT-18, 51 foot vertical. The CM-1 was originally made for one of Carl Mosley's salesman who "took ownership" right off the production line. The radio was made about 3 miles airline from my QTH when Carl had his plant on Lindbergh Blvd just south and west of St Louis airport (Lambert Field). Complete with speaker and 6 meter transverter, it is my only boat anchor left in the shack.
Surface mount (SMD) assembly and repair. Test and measurement equipment calibration. Music background in piano and organ (I have an old Thomas Theatre organ with an even older Leslie once used in the Lawrence Welk Show).
Current Passion:
FDMDV - try this new DV mode! See my article in TAPRs' PSR Winter 08.
50th Anniversary: On Tax Day USA (April 15th) 1958 I received my license marking my 50th year in the hobby. I have my dad, W4BI to thank for introducing me to the hobby. He was always active so getting a license was not such a big deal for me but after a couple years of using his station (he was always there as control op, of course!), dad decided it was time to get my own call sign. So I did and the rest is history.
Tower and Antennas:
72 ft Heavy-Duty US Tower & Prop-pitch rotator w/ RC2800P-A Force 12 C4XL @ 73 ft VHF: DSFO144-12, DSFOATV-25, 3318LY, 2355LY, AR-6, CX-333, SSB Electronics PreAmps and the Owl..
"As seen in..." QST Dec 2004 thru May 2005 QST.
FlexRadio SDR-1000 + ACOM2000A + AOR ARD9000 + PR40 = Software Defined Fun...
FLEX 5000A with the Dell Vostro 400 and dual Samsung 215tw Monitors